WASHINGTON – Looking to use the power of art and design to transform the world of medicine, John Maeda, president of the Rhode Island School of Design, will present at this year’s TEDMED health and medicine conference at The Kennedy Center in Washington.

The conference kicks off starting at 8 p.m. on April 16 and runs until April 19. Live video feed also will be freely available for online streaming for interested parties.

In the conference’s first session, titled “Seeing with a Broader Lens,” Maeda’s presentation will focus on how design principles can lead to discovery and better treatment in the healthcare industry.

According to his TEDMED bio, Maeda was named “one of the 75 most influential people in the 21st century” by Esquire. He took the helm at RISD in 2008, and spearheaded the “STEAM” movement, which adds an “A” for art to “STEM” (science, technology, engineering and math).

His talk Tuesday night looks to “transform thinking” about art and design in civic life and the markets, and how to progress change and innovation in art-starved scientific fields, according to the profile.

Six RISD students will also be drawing on-site at the conference, simultaneously attending while conceptualizing and illustrating their interpretations of discussions.

RISD artwork is also being featured on TEDMED banners and publicity materials displayed throughout the event in the form of 58 portraits of the 2013 speaker line-up.

TEDMED is licensed by, but independent from TED, or TED Conferences LLC (technology, entertainment and design), a nonprofit operation that hosts panels and public lectures for innovators and professionals with “ideas worth spreading.”

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